Editing Jennifer Ellison

{{Short description|English actress, model and singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Jennifer Ellison
| birth_name         = Jennifer Lesley Ellison
| height             = {{convert|5|ft|7|in|cm|abbr=on}}
| image              = JenniferEllisonJun09.jpg
| image_size         = 180px
| caption            = Ellison in June 2009
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1983|05|30|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Liverpool]], England
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actress|singer|model|dancer|reality TV personality}}
| networth           = 
| spouse             = {{marriage|Robbie Tickle|2009}}
| children           = 3
| website            = 
}}
'''Jennifer Lesley Ellison''' is an English actress, former [[glamour model]], television personality, dancer and singer. Ellison is perhaps best known for playing Emily Shadwick in the television soap opera ''[[Brookside (TV series)|Brookside]]'' until 2003, and as [[Meg Giry]] in the [[The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)|2004 film adaptation]] of ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]''. Ellison also starred on the [[reality television]] show ''[[Dance Mums with Jennifer Ellison]]'', the UK version of the American show ''[[Dance Moms]]''.

==Career==
===Dance===
Ellison studied dance from the age of three, first at a dance school in Liverpool, then later{{when|date=December 2019}} at the Elizabeth Hill School of Dance in [[St. Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Miles|first=Tina|date=1 January 2009|title=Jennifer Ellison: I'll open a Liverpool school for stars|newspaper=[[Liverpool Echo]] |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/jennifer-ellison-ill-open-liverpool-3460772}}</ref> She has achieved examination passes with the [[Royal Academy of Dance]] and appeared on instructional videos for the academy. She has also taken examinations with the [[International Dance Teachers Association]] (IDTA) and won Ballet and Modern Dance titles at the IDTA Theatre Dance Championships in 1996 and 1997, and in addition was awarded the [[Carl Alan Award]] for ballet in 1998. Choosing to pursue a professional career in dance, she successfully auditioned for the [[Royal Ballet School|Royal Ballet Lower School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/01/01/jennifer-ellison-i-ll-open-a-liverpool-school-for-stars-100252-22587080/|title=Jennifer Ellison: I'll open a Liverpool school for stars|author=Tina Miles|date=1 January 2009|work=liverpoolecho|access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref> She left dance to pursue acting.

In 2012, Ellison was a contestant on ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'' and made it to the semi-final stages. She hosted the UK version of ''[[Dance Moms]]'' on Lifetime, ''[[Dance Mums with Jennifer Ellison]]'' in 2014–15.

===Television===
From 1998 to 2002, Ellison played Emily Shadwick in the soap opera ''[[Brookside (TV series)|Brookside]]''. Her character was 'killed off' when she fell from a window during a robbery. In 2003, Ellison appeared in the travel documentary ''Jennifer Ellison does Thailand'' and in 2004, she appeared on the [[reality television]] show ''[[Hell's Kitchen (British TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'', which she then went on to win. In 2005, she appeared on the celebrity challenge show ''With a Little Help From My Friends''.

In spring 2007, Ellison appeared in the [[BBC]] reality TV show ''[[The Verdict (BBC)|The Verdict]]'', based on a fictional courtroom, alongside the likes of [[Jeffrey Archer]] and [[Sara Payne]]. That same year, she appeared as a judge on ''[[Dirty Dancing]] – Time of your Life'' a United States–based reality television show for the [[Living TV]] network. By December of that year, Ellison began appearing as a guest panellist on the ITV daytime show ''[[Loose Women]]''.<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0255204/|title=Jennifer Ellison|publisher=IMDb|access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref>

Additionally, Ellison has also acted in episodes of the British television series ''The Brief'', ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]'', ''[[New Street Law]]'' and ''[[The Commander (TV series)|The Commander]]''. In September 2008, she appeared in a 2-hour long show, called ''Ghosthunting with Paul O'Grady & Friends'', filmed in Sicily, with fellow Liverpudlians [[Paul O'Grady]], [[Philip Olivier]] and [[Natasha Hamilton]].<ref name="imdb.com"/>

===Music===
After success in television and men's magazines, Ellison pursued a pop music career. She released two [[pop rock]] [[Single (music)|singles]] before giving this venture up for acting and glamour modelling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/women/actress_200/220_jennifer_ellison.html|title=Jennifer Ellison|work=AskMen|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103194908/http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/actress_200/220_jennifer_ellison.html|archive-date=3 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her first single was "[[Baby I Don't Care#Jennifer Ellison version|Baby I Don't Care]]", released in June 2003, which reached No. 6 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 978-1-904994-10-7
| page= 182}}</ref> The song was originally released by [[Transvision Vamp]] in 1989.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 978-1-904994-10-7
| page= 564}}</ref> The following year in July, after being brought back into the public eye after winning ''[[Hell's Kitchen (UK)|Hell's Kitchen]]'', Ellison released her second single, "[[Bye Bye. (Nanase Aikawa song)#Jennifer Ellison version|Bye Bye Boy]]" – originally recorded by the Japanese singer [[Nanase Aikawa]] – which reached No. 13 in the UK chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name=g>{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,976109,00.html|title=Blowing their cover |work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2008 | location=London | first=Andrew | last=Mueller | date=14 June 2003}}</ref>

====Single discography====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="40"|Year
! Song<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
! width="40"|<small>[[UK Singles Chart]]</small>
! width="40"|<small>[[Irish Singles Chart]]</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2003
|"[[Baby I Don't Care#Jennifer Ellison version|Baby I Don't Care]]"
| style="text-align:center;"|6
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2004
|"[[Bye Bye. (Nanase Aikawa song)#Jennifer Ellison version|Bye Bye Boy]]"
| style="text-align:center;"|13
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|}

===Theatre===
In 2004, Ellison had a run in the London West End theatre version of the musical ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]'' at the [[Adelphi Theatre]] playing the leading role of [[Roxie Hart]] and reprised the role from 10 July to 9 August 2006, this time at the [[Cambridge Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lovetheatre.com/shows/singin-in-the-rain/ |title=Buy Singin' in the Rain Tickets &#124; Sadler's Wells |work=LOVEtheatre |first=Amanda |last=Parry }}</ref> Ellison was actually supposed to finish on 12 August, but was forced to pull out three days early due to a knee injury.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} Ellison subsequently toured Britain in ''Chicago'' from 25 September 2006 until 5 May 2007.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} On 1 October 2007, Ellison joined the cast of a revival of ''[[Boeing Boeing (play)|Boeing Boeing]]'' at the [[Comedy Theatre]], London, playing the part of Gloria, an American [[air stewardess]] working for the airline [[TWA]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

On 5 December 2007, she featured in a 10th Anniversary [[wiktionary:gala|Gala]] performance of ''Chicago'' at the [[Cambridge Theatre]] alongside a galaxy of stars{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} and on 16 December 2007, she played "Angel" in ''Liverpool [[Nativity play|Nativity]]'', a contemporary retelling of the Christmas story for [[BBC Three]] which was performed live from the streets of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/11_november/06/nativity.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - Liverpool Nativity|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/articles/2007/11/16/liverpool_nativity_feature.shtml|title=Liverpool Nativity|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

Ellison featured in the [[Liverpool Empire Theatre]]'s [[pantomime]] version of ''[[Cinderella]]'' for 2008, opposite [[Cilla Black]] and [[Les Dennis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/jennifer-ellison-in-cinderella-calamity-3465303|title=Jennifer Ellison in Cinderella calamity|first=Liverpool|last=Echo|date=20 December 2008|website=liverpoolecho}}</ref>

She also played Beth in ''[[Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds]]'' at major arenas of the UK in June 2009.<ref name="JWWOW">{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Jody|title=Jennifer Ellison on her new starring role in Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/06/05/jennifer-ellison-on-her-new-starring-role-in-jeff-wayne-s-the-war-of-the-worlds-watch-the-video-115875-21415169/|access-date=1 January 2012|newspaper=Mirror|date=5 July 2009}}</ref>

Ellison appeared in the July – October 2010 UK tour of the stage adaption of the film ''[[Calendar Girls (play)|Calendar Girls]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/news/ellison-and-mcgann-in-third-cast-of-calendar-girls_13159.html|title=Ellison & McGann in Third Cast of Calendar Girls &#124; WhatsOnStage|website=whatsonstage.com|date=2 June 2010 }}</ref> The same year she appeared at the [[Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent|Regent Theatre]], Stoke-on-Trent, in its pantomime ''Robinson Crusoe''.<ref>[http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/ahoy-panto-lovers/story-12487932-detail/story.html]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> As well as these, she was on the UK tour company of ''[[Legally Blonde (musical)|Legally Blonde The Musical]]'', playing the role of 'Paulette'.

In 2012 Ellison appeared in ''Peter Pan'' at the Churchill Theatre Bromley alongside [[Gemma Hunt]], [[Ace Bhatti]] and [[Andrew Agnew (actor)|Andrew Agnew]]. From 18 February 2013 she joined ''Singin’ in the Rain'' at the [[Palace Theatre, London]]. Ellison joined the cast to play silent movie screen siren and owner of a voice never meant for the ‘talkies’, Lina Lamont.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atgtickets.com/news/tv-and-stage-star-jennifer-ellison-joins-leading-man-adam-cooper-in-singin-in-the-rain/ |title=Jennifer Ellison Joins Cast Of Singin' In The Rain – News – ATG |publisher=Atgtickets.com |access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref>

Ellison was cast in the pantomime of ''[[Snow White]] and the Seven Dwarfs'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/panto-snow-white-set-for-opening-night-at-norwich-theatre-royal/|title=Panto Snow White set for opening night at Norwich Theatre Royal|publisher=Mustard TV|access-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216040336/http://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/panto-snow-white-set-for-opening-night-at-norwich-theatre-royal/|archive-date=16 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the [[Theatre Royal, Norwich]] throughout December 2015 to January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/actress_jennifer_ellison_set_to_star_in_norwich_theatre_royal_pantomime_1_4244819|title=Actress Jennifer Ellison set to star in Norwich Theatre Royal pantomime|author=Emma Knights|work=Eastern Daily Press|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Show
! Role
! Additional Notes
|-
| ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''
| [[Roxie Hart]]
| West End, UK Tour
|-
| ''[[Boeing-Boeing (play)|Boeing-Boeing]]''
| Gloria
| Comedy Theatre, West End
|-
| ''[[Calendar Girls (play)|Calendar Girls]]''
| Celia
| UK Tour
|-
| ''[[Cinderella]]''
| Cinderella
| Liverpool Empire Theatre
|-
| ''[[Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds|The War of the Worlds]]''
| Beth
| UK Arena Tour
|-
| ''Calendar Girls''
| Cora
| UK Tour
|-
| ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]''
| Polly
| Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent
|-
| ''[[Legally Blonde (musical)|Legally Blonde]]''
| Paulette
| UK Tour
|-
| ''[[Peter Pan (disambiguation)|Peter Pan]]''
| Peter Pan
| Churchill Theatre Bromley
|-
| ''[[Singin' in the Rain (musical)|Singin' in the Rain]]''
| Lina Lamont
| Palace Theatre West End
|-
| ''[[Sleeping Beauty]]''
| Carabosse
| Blackpool Grand Theatre
|-
|}

===Film===
Ellison made her international film debut as [[Meg Giry]] in the [[The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)|2004 film version]] of the stage musical ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'', although her lines were [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed over]]. She also starred in the English horror film ''[[The Cottage (film)|The Cottage]]'', which was released in the UK on 14 March 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mackie |first=Rob |date=2008-07-17 |title=DVD review: The Cottage |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jul/18/dvdreviews.thecottage |access-date=2023-12-15 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Modelling and magazine appearances===
Ellison was featured in ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]'' magazine's  "Girls of Maxim"<ref>[http://www.maximonline.com/girls_of_maxim/pictures_and_bio/1076/JenniferEllison.girl?src=wiki Girls of Maxim] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192928/http://www.maximonline.com/girls_of_maxim/pictures_and_bio/1076/JenniferEllison.girl?src=wiki |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> gallery. Her photos appeared regularly in British "[[men's magazines|lads' mags]]" including ''[[Nuts (magazine)|Nuts]]'', ''[[Zoo Weekly]]'' and ''[[FHM]]''. Ellison took over, from [[Katie Price|Jordan]], a contract with lingerie giant [[Ultimo (lingerie)|Ultimo]] for its "Young Attitude" line. Though Ultimo boss Michelle Mone had chosen Jordan for being "sexy, fun and outgoing," she later changed her mind, stating, "Jordan was just the wrong choice for [us]. Jennifer is a far better option and far classier."<ref name="Showbiz1">{{cite news|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title=Bra firm drops Jordan for "classy" Ellison|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a27223/bra-firm-drops-jordan-for-classy-ellison.html|access-date=21 November 2010|newspaper=Showbiz|date=11 December 2005}}</ref> In 2005, Ellison was voted ''world's sexiest blonde'' by readers of the UK magazine ''Nuts'', beating model [[Victoria Silvstedt]], who came second, and pop superstar [[Britney Spears]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} Ellison was also a regular in the yearly ''FHM'' "[[FHM's 100 Sexiest Women (UK)|100 Sexiest Women in the World]]" feature.

===Other ventures===
[[File:Jelli Studios, Liverpool.jpg|thumb|right|Ellison's studios in Edge Lane, Wavertree]]
In 2006, Ellison released ''Jennifer Ellison's [[West End theatre|West End]] [[Workout]]'', a [[physical fitness|fitness]] DVD which combined her love of dance with exercise routines.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}. In December 2011, she then released a second fitness DVD ''Jennifer Ellison's Fat Blaster Workout''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Everlast |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennifer-Ellisons-Fat-Blaster-Workout/dp/B0064YZE6Q |title=Jennifer Ellison's Fat Blaster Workout [DVD&#93;: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV |website=Amazon UK |date= 26 December 2011|access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

She is a winner of the [[Carl Alan Award]] in the ballet category for 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tdci.org.uk/carl%20alan%20awards.htm|title=carl alan awards}}</ref> an industry award voted for by dance professionals.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

She took part in the 2012 TV series ''[[Dancing on Ice]]''. Ellison and professional partner [[Daniel Whiston]] ended up in fourth place after being voted out in the semi-final.<ref>{{cite news|author=TV and Radio |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9152556/Jennifer-Ellison-voted-off-Dancing-On-Ice.html |title=Jennifer Ellison voted off Dancing On Ice |work=The Daily Telegraph |date= 19 March 2012|access-date=11 May 2012 |location=London}}</ref>

In May 2013 it was announced that Jennifer Ellison would join Liverpool's [[Radio City (Liverpool)|Radio City 96.7]] to co-present a new Sunday morning Breakfast show alongside Drivetime Presenter Dave Kelly, for an initial five-week period until she was due to give birth.

==Personal life==
Ellison attended [[Broughton Hall High School]], a Catholic school for girls.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} She then attended [[St Edward's College]] for Sixth Form.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/schools-liverpools-biggest-celebrities-sports-17628392|title=Schools Liverpool's biggest celebrities and sports stars went to|first=Sophie|last=McCoid|date=26 January 2020|website=liverpoolecho}}</ref> She has two younger half-sisters. Her parents, Kevin May and Jane, separated in 1986.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Her mother remarried.{{when|date=December 2019}}{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} She is close to her mother and stepfather David.<ref>{{cite web |title=On the move: Jennifer Ellison |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/on-the-move-jennifer-ellison-s66502l6l6d |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=November 15, 2021 |date=May 25, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2005/07/05/exclusive-my-lover-by-jennifer-ellison-115875-15699722/|title=EXCLUSIVE: MY LOVER BY JENNIFER ELLISON|author=mirror Administrator|date=4 July 2005|work=mirror|access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref>

Ellison and boxer Robbie Tickle began dating in May 2008, and were engaged in October of that year while on holiday in the [[Maldives]].<ref>{{cite web
 | title = Jennifer Ellison engaged to boxer boyfriend Robert Tickle
 | date = 2 November 2008 | work = [[Daily Mirror]]
 | url =https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/jennifer-ellison-engaged-to-boxer-boyfriend-354441
}}</ref> The following year they were married, with the ceremony being performed in [[Mauritius]] on 10 October 2009.<ref>{{cite web
 | url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ex-brookside-actress-jennifer-ellison-marries-424545
 | title = Ex-Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison marries in secret in Mauritius
 | work = Daily Mirror
 | date = 13 October 2009 | accessdate = November 15, 2021
}}</ref>

Ellison has three children. On 4 February 2010 she gave birth to her first son.<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/06/07/liverpool-actress-jennifer-ellison-reveals-traumatic-labour-won-t-put-her-off-having-more-kids-100252-26602779/ "Liverpool actress Jennifer Ellison reveals traumatic labour won’t put her off having more kids"] 7 June 2010, Liverpool Echo</ref> Her second pregnancy came to her as a surprise. Ellison said: "I didn't even know I was pregnant until four weeks ago, and I'm almost five months gone now. I can't believe I'm having another baby in July. It's been a massive shock." On 9 July 2013 she gave birth to her second son. On 26 September 2014, she gave birth to her third son.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

In May 2018, Ellison was paid an undisclosed sum by [[Reach plc|Mirror Group Newspapers]] as settlement for [[News media phone hacking scandal|phone-hacking]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43989326|title=Dwight Yorke in Mirror phone-hacking settlement|work=BBC News|date=3 May 2018}}</ref> She was born on the 30th of May 1983.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Jennifer Ellison}}
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*{{IMDb name|0255204}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090421055705/http://www.celebcurry.com/gallery/thumbnails-103.html Jennifer Ellison Photoshoots]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellison, Jennifer}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Liverpool]]
[[Category:Actors educated at the Royal Ballet School]]
[[Category:English child actresses]]
[[Category:English female models]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English musical theatre actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:British glamour models]]
[[Category:Reality cooking competition winners]]
[[Category:People educated at St Edward's College]]
[[Category:English women pop singers]]
[[Category:Models from Liverpool]]